Having recently purchased our first mono hull my wife and I were very excited to get our boat wet. I live about 10 miles from the local river and we decided to sublet an empty slip at the marina. Having arrived at the marina early in the morning, we decided that if we could get the boat rigged and in the slip for the day we would be happy. All went fairly well, only some minor set backs, like hey this darn mast really is heavy, and how about hey honey could you untangle the line back there. The next day we arrived early to find the wind was about 15 knots. Not having put the sails on the mast yet we spent some time getting familiar with the rigging. Finally we motored out into the harbor. Boy did my brand new four stroke honda 5 hp motor sound great. As we entered the channel I instructed my wife to raise the headsail. Wow, we were impressed, the 135 geneoa started propelling us forward. At this point in time I reached back and shut off the motor. Now we were ready, let's hoist the main. Hmmm, I guess you have to feed the main into the mast? Oh ok so that's what a sail stop is for....duh! Yes we raised the main, and when we did my wife who was perched on top of the cabin ducked because the boom snapped over to the other side of the boat. She and I laughed as we noticed an approaching barge. Well, not wanting to congest the narrow chennel area we are in I decided to turn out of the channel. Did I mention my wife? Yes, she was still standing on the cabin, until I turned and the boom took her off of it. I didn"t hear her laughing on the way off the boat. She waved to me that she was ok and i brought the boat about to pick her up. At this point in time I should probably state for the record that I have been sailing Hobies for about 16 years, so, getting wet is nothing new for us. As you probably guessed I overshot her and had to come about again. The whole time the approaching barge is getting closer. So, I decided to start the motor and creep up on her. oops, problem number 2. I tried to pull starty my motor and it was locked up. Oh you can image the thoughts I was having not to mention what I was going to say to the boat dealer some 250 mles away. Any way, I finally got my wife back aboard, no easy task mind you with the silly portable ladder. I gave her a towel and we sailed back into the harbor. What about the barge? As the barge finally passed us the skipper hailed me on the radio. He instructed me to look at his port side. & crew memebers were standing up on the barge holding up signs with numbers on them. It seems are average score for the entertainment was 7.5. Not to bad I would say. Since then. 7 more time out on the water, we ahve ahd a wonderful time. We have invited friends with us and have anchored up and had some lunch along the river. We are both really enjoying this boat. I must say that I still enjoy the speed and the flying on my Hobie. Oh and what about the new motor? After talking to the dealer and expressing my...feelings, he drove up here and brought another motor with him. When he came to the harbor and tried to start it he couldn't believe it either. After about 10 minutes he moved the shifter lever back and forth and the motor started right up. It appears that I did not have it completely out of gear. So, after a nice dinner and several drinks later the dealer went on his way. Do I feel silly? Yeah, but who cares anyway? At least we are having fun. Gary Adams Illinois